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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: hmaria1609 on December 15, 2020, 07:28:30 PM

Title: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on December 15, 2020, 07:28:30 PM
On the old fora, we had a winter thread/check in (or 2 or 3).  I checked the "back pages" here and didn't see one. Here goes:
We're getting our 1st snowfall here in the metro Baltimore/DC area starting tomorrow morning:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2020/12/wednesdays-snow-likely-to-be-most-significant-in-2-years/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2020/12/wednesdays-snow-likely-to-be-most-significant-in-2-years/)
Some areas will see more snow than others.  Fortunately I'm not going to the library so will be home tomorrow.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Langue_doc on December 15, 2020, 07:46:46 PM
Here tomorrow, gone by Thursday. I saw a convoy of salt trucks today, always a harbinger of having to dig out, and inaccessible spots in parking lots because of the haphazard plowing after the storm. Outages are a possibility in my neck of the woods. I don't have to go anywhere, so don't have to worry about digging out. Here is the National Weather Service advisory https://www.google.org/publicalerts/alert?aid=91a00386a80b625a&hl=en&gl=US&source=wweather and the pedagogic sounding article from the NYT https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/15/us/noreaster-weather-snow.html
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: dismalist on December 15, 2020, 08:48:59 PM
Yeah, well, I have enough wine for the duration.

The neologism "wintry mix" bothers me.

Almost as much as power outages, which are so widespread only because of the regulatees sleeping with the regulators.

Sincerely hope no one is hurt or even put out much.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on December 16, 2020, 06:18:20 AM
It actually looks and feels like winter here--no longer a given in December.  "Like winter" here doesn't usually involve snow, though.  The northern part of the state has gotten several inches of snow.  Elsewhere there have been reports of flurries. 

Here, not a single flake.  It's been several years since we last had any snow whatsoever.  In a place that once reliably got some at least once a year.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Puget on December 16, 2020, 06:39:36 AM
Storm starting tonight, with a possible foot plus of snow by tomorrow afternoon. This morning: seemingly everyone in the neighborhood running their snow blowers to make sure they are working. Me, I prefer my human powered shovel-- good exercise. Though I realize I may feel differently when I'm older.

The best part is it will stay cold after the storm passes so I can probably get out on my snow shoes and/or cross-country skis this weekend.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: cathwen on December 16, 2020, 07:24:36 AM
We're supposed to get a foot or so of snow between this afternoon and Thursday.  I imagine we'll be plowed/dug out by Friday.  I have nowhere to go, so I'm planning to hunker down with hot chocolate and perhaps some cookies.  I always love the first real snow of the season!  After that, it sparks less joy.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on December 16, 2020, 07:35:47 AM
Quote from: cathwen on December 16, 2020, 07:24:36 AM
We're supposed to get a foot or so of snow between this afternoon and Thursday.  I imagine we'll be plowed/dug out by Friday.  I have nowhere to go, so I'm planning to hunker down with hot chocolate and perhaps some cookies.  I always love the first real snow of the season!  After that, it sparks less joy.

That was the great thing about growing up in a place where it typically snowed once a year. 

Children here now literally barely know what snow looks like.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Harlow2 on December 16, 2020, 11:57:08 AM
1 fluffy inch so far in the southern reaches of the Philly metro area.  It's gorgeous. Supposed to rain later and turn into frozen slushiness tonight. Been a couple of years without measurable snow.

Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: spork on December 16, 2020, 05:40:33 PM
Quote from: Harlow2 on December 16, 2020, 11:57:08 AM
1 fluffy inch so far in the southern reaches of the Philly metro area.  It's gorgeous. Supposed to rain later and turn into frozen slushiness tonight. Been a couple of years without measurable snow.

Interesting. I attended an early February conference in Philadelphia, I think 2010, when the city got maybe two feet of snow overnight. We trudged to a nearby Afghan restaurant for dinner; it was the only place near the hotel that seemed to be open. Run by an interesting young woman. We had a nice chat.

Forecast here is for a foot of snow. Announcement went out that the university is closed tomorrow. 
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on December 16, 2020, 07:21:29 PM
Snow started late morning so I got my morning walk done. It was lovely to watch the snow fall. Earlier this evening as we shoveled the driveway, it changed over to rain. I strapped a cover on my front windshield last night.
The local newspaper website reports we got close to 7" in the county. Elsewhere around the DC region:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2020/12/dc-region-braces-for-winters-first-major-snow/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2020/12/dc-region-braces-for-winters-first-major-snow/)
An early white Christmas! Plus it's nicer to see the outdoor Christmas decorations and lights by snowfall at night.

Stay safe and warm!

Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: FishProf on December 16, 2020, 07:55:30 PM
The big storm has begun.  Schools are cancelled or remote, and everyone here is safe and secure.  The cats are pressed against the windows twitching with excitement.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mahagonny on December 17, 2020, 12:38:05 AM
i miss the colder temperature of some places I have lived. Ten degrees difference means the snow is lighter weight, has less water in it. And instead of ice and slush everywhere, you have pretty snow. Until March.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: sinenomine on December 17, 2020, 03:29:50 AM
I woke to about a foot of snow on the ground, and plenty more coming down. It's going to be cold out there for the shoveling and car clearing!
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on December 17, 2020, 06:17:35 AM
It's snowed, and it's snowing.

Very glad to have no reason to go out.

Yesterday AM I made myself get up early enough to go the store and do the next three weeks' primary shopping.

Today I'm thanking my "yesterday self" for being so diligent.

So many things to do.

So very glad shoveling snow isn't one of those things.

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Puget on December 17, 2020, 06:17:59 AM
About a foot and still snowing here as well (or maybe "here' is the same place!).

Per usual my retired neighbors cleared both our sidewalks and a path up my driveway with their big walk-behind snow blower before I was even up-- they seem to enjoy it or at least I can't convince them that they don't need to do it and I'm really OK with the shovel, so I just thank them and compensate them with lots of garden produce in the summer.

I still need to go out and do the front walk and steps in case there is mail/deliveries, and we'll see if I can get the new snowfall shoveled this afternoon before they get the blower out again. 
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on December 17, 2020, 06:23:52 AM
I like to hand shovel down to the bare sidewalk when I do shovel.

Snow blowers tamp the snow down and make that harder, not easier.

Sometimes our neighbor also thinks they're being kind by "doing" our sidewalk, but I wish they wouldn't.

I'm usually up very early because, when going out to teach or to attend meetings, I have to get going first thing and my porch won't get shoveled out if I don't do it....so I can often beat them to it.

Today, I don't care.

Stay safe and warm, all.

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on December 17, 2020, 07:21:19 AM
Quote from: mahagonny on December 17, 2020, 12:38:05 AM
i miss the colder temperature of some places I have lived. Ten degrees difference means the snow is lighter weight, has less water in it. And instead of ice and slush everywhere, you have pretty snow. Until March.

That's part of why southern states often have more trouble dealing with snow fall, even though they get less of it.  I remember an Atlantic article about the phenomenon that, as is Atlantic's wont, insinuated that the greater difficulty in dealing with snow was all down to foolish policy and cultural failings.  Comments on the article pointed out that snow in southern states tends to be very wet and heavy, and invariably turns into sheets of ice overnight.  You can't plow a thin film of slick ice.

On the exceedingly rare occasions that we get snow here, it's always a borderline situation.  I've made the decision to close down the library on a snowy morning, only to have the mess on the roads melt away completely by noon, making me look like something of an idiot.  Then again, some of our staff live well out of town, and the rural roads may not clear up so quickly. 

It's been a moot point for the last several snowless "winters."  We'll see what happens this winter.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: ab_grp on December 17, 2020, 09:39:24 AM
I hope you all stay safe and warm! My eldest daughter, who grew up in eastern PA, went to college in central PA, and now lives in western PA apparently does not own a shovel.  ? Could have been useful today.  There were power outages in my mom's area, but it seems as though they got resolved pretty quickly, thankfully.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on December 17, 2020, 12:46:53 PM
This morning I woke up a bit early to shovel our driveway and sidewalks. (I had to go to work) More snow fell overnight but it was a light amount. My front windshield cover was a stiff thing when I peeled it off the car! The snow is out of the metro DC region.
Quite a few drivers had accidents on the roads around the region. There's a Hypothermia Alert on for tonight.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Puget on December 17, 2020, 01:59:51 PM
Lots of shoveling because the plows kept plowing the sidewalk back in (I know the snow has to go someplace, the the sidewalk and in giant mounds blocking all the corners is not a great choice), plus it kept snowing most of the day.

I don't really mind much though, and I got to go for a short snowshoe on the river path this afternoon-- good exercise through deep snow! Think I'll take the cross country skis out tomorrow.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: kaysixteen on December 17, 2020, 08:26:03 PM
I hate snow.   I went to grad school in Buffalo, but that ended 20 years ago, and, well, I hate the cold now, and having to live in a city environment with only on-street parking ain't pleasant.   I whine.   I hate snow.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on December 18, 2020, 07:29:11 AM
The extended forecast calls for rain and unseasonably warm weather (well into the 60s) in the next few days.  Then Christmas is supposed to be, if not white, at least chilly.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: wareagle on December 18, 2020, 09:37:01 AM
Quote from: kaysixteen on December 17, 2020, 08:26:03 PM
I hate snow.   I went to grad school in Buffalo, but that ended 20 years ago, and, well, I hate the cold now, and having to live in a city environment with only on-street parking ain't pleasant.   I whine.   I hate snow.

I'm with you, kay.  I'll take twenty below over snow any day.  I can always put on more layers.  But dealing with snow just plain sucks.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: sonoamused on December 19, 2020, 11:54:25 AM
Its not that I am entirely unused to 40 inches of snow: we have lived in snowy areas our whole lives.  But when its more then double the amount that was expected, it completely sucks.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 29, 2021, 07:16:31 PM
*Bump*
We're getting some snow on Sunday here in the metro Baltimore/DC area:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2021/01/blustery-friday-to-start-the-weekend-before-dc-region-braces-for-snow/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2021/01/blustery-friday-to-start-the-weekend-before-dc-region-braces-for-snow/)
Crews were out treating the major roads earlier today; overhead electronic message boards alerted commuters pretreatment was in progress on the interstate routes.
It's been a cold and windy week as it is!
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: AvidReader on January 30, 2021, 06:22:26 AM
I miss winter SO MUCH.

But I picked an orange off the tree in my backyard and ate it for breakfast today, which was nice.

I would rather be shoveling snow.

AR.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Parasaurolophus on January 30, 2021, 09:36:32 AM
Some cherry trees had started blooming before the snow came a few days ago (most of it has now melted). We don't get much of a winter here, but still, nothing should blooming right now.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Thursday's_Child on January 30, 2021, 09:48:23 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on January 30, 2021, 09:36:32 AM
Some cherry trees had started blooming before the snow came a few days ago (most of it has now melted). We don't get much of a winter here, but still, nothing should blooming right now.

The non-native flowering cherries usually start on New Years Day here - unless it's been really cold.  Twenty years ago they didn't, but of course, I didn't take paper notes...
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Parasaurolophus on January 30, 2021, 09:55:56 AM
Quote from: Thursday's_Child on January 30, 2021, 09:48:23 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on January 30, 2021, 09:36:32 AM
Some cherry trees had started blooming before the snow came a few days ago (most of it has now melted). We don't get much of a winter here, but still, nothing should blooming right now.

The non-native flowering cherries usually start on New Years Day here - unless it's been really cold.  Twenty years ago they didn't, but of course, I didn't take paper notes...

Wow!
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Puget on January 30, 2021, 10:36:04 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on January 30, 2021, 09:36:32 AM
Some cherry trees had started blooming before the snow came a few days ago (most of it has now melted). We don't get much of a winter here, but still, nothing should blooming right now.

Feb is spring in the PNW, it just takes summer a looong time arrive after that (where I grew up, summer = dry season and couldn't be counted on starting until after the 4th of July).
PWN joke: How do you know when it's spring? The rain gets warmer.

Where I live now it is still most definitely winter. I didn't go out for a walk yesterday because below zero windchill is the limit of my "no such thing as bad weather just inappropriate clothing" motto. But now it is 19 and sunny with little wind so I'm off for my 10k.
Nor'easter arriving tomorrow afternoon, just in time for the first week of classes.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on January 30, 2021, 03:31:38 PM
8 degrees again last night.

Tomorrow, the low will go up to 12.

Yippee.

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Parasaurolophus on January 30, 2021, 05:32:23 PM
Quote from: Puget on January 30, 2021, 10:36:04 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on January 30, 2021, 09:36:32 AM
Some cherry trees had started blooming before the snow came a few days ago (most of it has now melted). We don't get much of a winter here, but still, nothing should blooming right now.

Feb is spring in the PNW, it just takes summer a looong time arrive after that (where I grew up, summer = dry season and couldn't be counted on starting until after the 4th of July).
PWN joke: How do you know when it's spring? The rain gets warmer.

Where I live now it is still most definitely winter. I didn't go out for a walk yesterday because below zero windchill is the limit of my "no such thing as bad weather just inappropriate clothing" motto. But now it is 19 and sunny with little wind so I'm off for my 10k.
Nor'easter arriving tomorrow afternoon, just in time for the first week of classes.

Whoa, that early?! Holy geeze.

We're only a little north of you, but from what I remember of the last four years I've lived here, February is when we can expect winter. And even then, it's brief, and spring definitely starts in March and, as you say, it lasts foreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 30, 2021, 07:04:53 PM
'Tis the night before the snow!  An official winter storm warning has been issued:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2021/01/snowy-weather-looms-over-dc-area-4-to-8-inches-possible-by-sunday-night/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2021/01/snowy-weather-looms-over-dc-area-4-to-8-inches-possible-by-sunday-night/)
I saw a few neighbors have their snow blowers towards the front of the garage. I pulled up the wipers on my car and put on the windshield cover.

The Costco parking lot was a bit of a challenge to navigate!
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Thursday's_Child on January 31, 2021, 10:13:18 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on January 30, 2021, 09:55:56 AM
Quote from: Thursday's_Child on January 30, 2021, 09:48:23 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on January 30, 2021, 09:36:32 AM
Some cherry trees had started blooming before the snow came a few days ago (most of it has now melted). We don't get much of a winter here, but still, nothing should blooming right now.

The non-native flowering cherries usually start on New Years Day here - unless it's been really cold.  Twenty years ago they didn't, but of course, I didn't take paper notes...

Wow!

I saw the first Forsythia in bloom today.  Paperwhite daffodils are also starting to flower.  History suggests that it's getting near time for a seriously hard freeze!
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: ab_grp on January 31, 2021, 10:29:44 AM
Hope those in the snowstorm region stay warm and safe.  I saw one forecaster discussing various models, including "one model had a bit too much to drink last night" according to the forecaster, having predicted 40".  Hopefully it's more in the 6-12" range.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on February 01, 2021, 07:35:49 PM
The snow has come through the metro DC area and it's mostly over. It started early yesterday morning here.
Today I went outside to shovel twice. It wasn't too bad. Plus my library closed because of the snow which doesn't happen often! There's overnight freezing to affect tomorrow's commute. I plan to get hot chocolate for the road!

How much other fora members get?
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Harlow2 on February 02, 2021, 06:01:06 AM
I thought our snow  in the Philly metro area, was finally over last night.  Little accumulation forecast for today.  However this morning we have had additional inches with no sign of it slowing.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: uni_cyclist on February 04, 2021, 09:16:56 AM
Our ten-day forecast shows daily highs only in the single digits, and nightly lows all in the negatives with some double-digit negatives.

Also, it's snowing right now. They're saying it's a blizzard but it's less snow than we received a week or two ago.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: ergative on February 04, 2021, 10:04:19 AM
Please can we have either proper snow or else spring? These days upon days upon weeks of sleety rain are getting so old. For a while it was gorgeous and sunny during the day, and frozen overnight, which made walking treachorous, but at least it was pretty. Now it's not freezing overnight, the sun is gone, and everything's damp and cold and horrible.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on February 06, 2021, 06:42:41 PM
Snow coming in Super Bowl Sunday here:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2021/02/super-bowl-sunday-brings-chance-for-snow-in-dc-region/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2021/02/super-bowl-sunday-brings-chance-for-snow-in-dc-region/)
It'll start early morning.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Harlow2 on February 07, 2021, 08:44:35 AM
Our forecast (which went from 0.1 to 3 to 6) is now back to 1.0. Pretty, but once a year is sufficient
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on February 11, 2021, 06:50:18 PM
We got some more snow here last night! When I left the library, it was a wintry mix, and it picked up the further north I drove up the interstate. There's some kind of invisible dividing line! It was pretty to watch after I got home.
I woke up earlier to shovel the driveway and clean off my car before going to work in the am. It was the fluffy kind of snow so it was easy to shovel.

There'll be more snow coming to the metro DC area--some places will see more than others.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Vkw10 on February 11, 2021, 07:56:00 PM
It's 32 degrees in my Texas town, with precipitation. I took the long way to work today, avoiding most overpasses and bridges. I shall do the same tomorrow, as the local news was one long accident report tonight. Conditions tonight are perfect for ice formation. Living in an area where I rarely need more than a light sweater is great most of the time, but any hint of snow or ice turns the roads into bumper car arenas.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: ergative on February 12, 2021, 02:29:27 AM
Quote from: ergative on February 04, 2021, 10:04:19 AM
Please can we have either proper snow or else spring? These days upon days upon weeks of sleety rain are getting so old. For a while it was gorgeous and sunny during the day, and frozen overnight, which made walking treachorous, but at least it was pretty. Now it's not freezing overnight, the sun is gone, and everything's damp and cold and horrible.

Ok, thank you for the proper snow. Spring, please.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Harlow2 on February 12, 2021, 05:37:48 AM
It has been oppressively gloomy lately. Some blue skies with sun would be nice.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 12, 2021, 07:38:23 AM
In recent years we've had mild winter after mild winter.  Not really what you'd call winter at all in recent years.  Every year I hear people say "Well, you know February often has some of the worst winter weather."  And every year we've had February temperatures as high as the 70s. 

Now it looks like it's finally happening.  Part of the state has already had some severe winter weather.  We're looking at snow--real snow that sticks, for the first time in about a decade--early this coming week.  One night the extended forecast is calling for overnight lows in the single digits, which I've never seen before in my life.  After years of people freaking out with every talk of maybe having a bit of sleet or snow flurries, it looks like we really are having to brace ourselves.  I'm stocked up on soups and hot chocolate.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 14, 2021, 08:32:16 AM
Sleet early this morning.  It's still coming down intermittently.  The road surfaces have just enough ice on them to make them hazardous.  I assume our church has cancelled face-to-face services because of the road conditions.  Checking in a few minutes to see whether the pastor will manage to live stream today's message.  Meanwhile I'm at work, making sure the building is okay and using my computer.

Considerably more in the forecast.  We could be looking at tree damage and downed power lines. 
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: ab_grp on February 14, 2021, 08:50:51 AM
We woke up to snow with more coming.  Wasn't really supposed to start until later.  I am hoping we can stay in and off the roads as planned, but I guess that's up in the air now, unfortunately.  Snow is unusual here and typically goes away pretty quickly, but it's also very cold, so I suppose it might stick around and maybe ice up a bit.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 14, 2021, 12:39:49 PM
Apparently people are skating on a pond here. You couldn't pay me enough to go out on "frozen" water anywhere in this vicinity. It just doesn't get cold enough.

I mean, it's been just above freezing most days. We haven't dipped below freezing for more than a few hours any given day. What snow has fallen isn't sticking. There's no way it's safe to skate on that pond.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: OneMoreYear on February 14, 2021, 03:18:21 PM
We're prepping for another week of snowpocalypse (or at least the version of it here).
I'm trying to figure out on which days the roads will be least awful so I can be on campus.  I hate, hate, hate driving in the snow.

Quote from: ergative on February 12, 2021, 02:29:27 AM
Ok, thank you for the proper snow. Spring, please.
+1
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Langue_doc on February 14, 2021, 03:23:28 PM
Freezing rain that's going to turn into a light "glaze" tomorrow, which means "stay off the roads".
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on February 14, 2021, 03:24:53 PM
I'm going to have to time a quick 2-block-by-2-block errand run/walk to the mailbox, bank and corner store between when the sun comes up (so I can see if there's ice on the sidewalks) and an hour or so later (when it's supposed to start snowing again).

Ever since last year's broken foot I'm very cautious. (But better safe...)

Meanwhile...early to bed so that is possible.

Oh, joy.

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Vkw10 on February 14, 2021, 04:28:45 PM
University announced that we will be closed Monday and Tuesday shortly after noon today. Temperature is expected to stay well below freezing for a couple of days, with precipitation expected to continue through Monday evening. Grocery stores were mobbed yesterday and early today as people prepare for likely power outages. At least central Texas is aware that we aren't equipped for winter weather.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Puget on February 14, 2021, 07:26:53 PM
Several days of "wintery mix" forecast, which I always thought sounded like it should be a festive winter snack, and would be a lot more fun if it was. So now I want to make it so-- what, oh wise foramites, should go into the wintery mix??
Surely there should be chocolate, maybe peppermint chocolate. And nuts. What else? Chex? Mini-pretzels? Popcorn? The sky's the limit, let's built us the ideal snack mix.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: ciao_yall on February 14, 2021, 07:31:55 PM
Quote from: Puget on February 14, 2021, 07:26:53 PM
Several days of "wintery mix" forecast, which I always thought sounded like it should be a festive winter snack, and would be a lot more fun if it was. So now I want to make it so-- what, oh wise foramites, should go into the wintery mix??
Surely there should be chocolate, maybe peppermint chocolate. And nuts. What else? Chex? Mini-pretzels? Popcorn? The sky's the limit, let's built us the ideal snack mix.

How about bacon?
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 15, 2021, 06:04:05 AM
Snow!  Not sleet, not freezing rain, but honest-to-goodness snow!  We have a white blanket everywhere, and it's still coming down.  I ventured out into it to get to work (Everything looks fine here, by the way).  There were places on the street where I could barely see the line of the curb.  It's a close to a pristine blanket as I've ever seen.  And the driving snow is the closest thing to a blizzard I've ever seen.  The library looming up through it looked almost eerie.

We were going to be closed for Presidents' Day anyway.  In all probability I'm going to have to declare a snow day tomorrow.  Meanwhile I'm waiting for the blizzard to subside a bit so that I can get outside and post signs around the library lot to warn off the four-wheel ATVs.  They'll be out in force once the snow stops.  Guess I'll check our online state newspaper in the meantime.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Vkw10 on February 15, 2021, 09:39:51 AM
I woke to  a blanket of white snow, without a hint of grass peeking through, plus a glaze of ice and tiny icicles at the edge of the porch. Texas utility companies are doing rolling outages because they can't keep up with power demand, so the power is off about 30 minutes every three hours.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on February 15, 2021, 10:15:40 AM
Little white star shapes are descending from puffy clouds in my weather app's graphics...but nothing is happening outside.

Not complaining, mind you.....

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: ab_grp on February 15, 2021, 10:48:13 AM
Quote from: Vkw10 on February 15, 2021, 09:39:51 AM
I woke to  a blanket of white snow, without a hint of grass peeking through, plus a glaze of ice and tiny icicles at the edge of the porch. Texas utility companies are doing rolling outages because they can't keep up with power demand, so the power is off about 30 minutes every three hours.

I've been reading about those rolling power outages.  Hope you stay safe and warm.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on February 15, 2021, 08:00:25 PM
It got warmer today.

Snow being exotherimc, I thought, "OK, ok, maybe they're right, maye we really will get walloped this time."

No dice.

No snow.

Overprediction is the new national sport.

They all want to be Harvey Leonard...

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: ergative on February 16, 2021, 01:03:46 AM
The last week of sub-freezing temperature and unmelting snow has finally melted overnight, and the weather is now rainy with highs in the 40s and even 50s forecast for all week. Thank goodness. We even have some blue sky this morning! I might finally be able to go for a run for the first time in months*
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 16, 2021, 07:06:12 AM
Quote from: mamselle on February 15, 2021, 08:00:25 PM
It got warmer today.

Snow being exotherimc, I thought, "OK, ok, maybe they're right, maye we really will get walloped this time."

No dice.

No snow.

Overprediction is the new national sport.

They all want to be Harvey Leonard...

M.

The predictions have so far been very on-target around here.  This morning we still have snow on the ground from the day before (It's been a good decade since we had a snow that didn't melt the moment it fell).  It's now clear, sunny, and cold out.  We've called a snow day.  Tomorrow's forecast calls for more snow and freezing rain tomorrow and into Thursday morning.  I've never known us to get back-to-back snows before.  We're almost certainly going to have to call another snow day.  This is putting us into new territory at the library.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on February 16, 2021, 08:27:14 AM
It not only didn't snow at either of the updated times projected throughout the day yesterday, it was so exothermic it must have melted high in the sky, because it's coming down now...as icy rain.

Il pleut. Je ne l'aime pas. (It's raining. I don't like it. Cold, sleety, yuck).

That is all.

M. 
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Vkw10 on February 16, 2021, 10:27:30 AM
Quote from: ab_grp on February 15, 2021, 10:48:13 AM
Quote from: Vkw10 on February 15, 2021, 09:39:51 AM
I woke to  a blanket of white snow, without a hint of grass peeking through, plus a glaze of ice and tiny icicles at the edge of the porch. Texas utility companies are doing rolling outages because they can't keep up with power demand, so the power is off about 30 minutes every three hours.

I've been reading about those rolling power outages.  Hope you stay safe and warm.

My household is fine. We pulled out the winter blankets and clothing from our years in Kansas. I worry about people who've always lived in this area and aren't equipped for cold weather. Fortunately, most people seem to be taking the advice to stay off the roads seriously.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: ergative on February 16, 2021, 12:43:15 PM
Quote from: ergative on February 16, 2021, 01:03:46 AM
The last week of sub-freezing temperature and unmelting snow has finally melted overnight, and the weather is now rainy with highs in the 40s and even 50s forecast for all week. Thank goodness. We even have some blue sky this morning! I might finally be able to go for a run for the first time in months.

I went! For a run!

(well, alternating blocks of run/gasp)
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on February 16, 2021, 07:01:38 PM
For those in areas affected by snow storms and freezing temps, stay safe and warm!
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: clean on February 17, 2021, 03:47:20 AM
my area has been hit by a winter storm and without outing my location, Im sure that the national news will show that my area is having major power issues to boot!  I was without power for at least 38 hours, and there is no guarantee I will keep it. The electric company has warned that they may need to 'shed the load' at any moment.  (electricity is a gift, not a guarantee!)

Some have reported getting power back, only to loose it hours later and for long, long periods of time.  It is not some sort of power rotation here now! 

I have a small generator that has served me well so far and 5 gallons of gas.  Unfortunately, the gas tank is designed to work by replacing the cap to the fuel cap to the generator.  As the generator uses the gas, the suction draws the gas from the tank.

At about 11 pm Tuesday night, the generator stopped.  I thought, There is no way Im out of gas, but ... Well Maybe?
Well, IM not out of gas, but the hoses have clogged from old gas from when it was last used years ago.  So I have 5 gallons of gas I can not get to for now! 

So Off I was Tuesday morning to get a little gas to keep me going.   Some stations are posting reasonable prices, but have no power to pump.  Others have reasonable prices, but only one pump sill with gas, and 10 cars in line to get it! I gave up after finding a station with 8 working pumps, a tanker unloading gas, but a line to get into the station down the road.  I returned home figuring I d find a way to work it out, even if I had to cut up a garden hose to suck out some gas if necessary.

Fortunately, I had enough gas to get me to the return of electricity.  Hopefully power will remain, but Im not hopeful.  Even now, there is a slight rain that is freezing on metal that is exposed (a glaze of ice covers my grill out the back door, and I can see ice on the window and hood of the car in the driveway.  I m glad I didnt leave the generator outside, but it will take some time to get it running again as Id have to get to the gas first! 

Local news just announced road closures again as it looks like the ice is freezing on the overpasses. 

Once we make it past this afternoon, though, I think that we are going to be above freezing for the rest of the 10 day forecast, so given the date, we may be out of the hard freeze risk .

A coworker reports being out of power since Sunday night.  The news is indicating that those without power are not likely to get it back anytime soon.  Worse, our county also issued a water boil notice!!

Imagine how you would feel if you had no power (no gas stoves here!) and are told that you must boil all of your water!  And dont think that you can just get in the car!  The major roads are closed from the ice!  (and the news indicates that more just closed again this morning from freezing rain)

Our temperatures the last 2 nights have broken 128 year records!  We hit 17 on MOnday morning  and 19 on Tuesday morning!

Reports are that some faculty with power are taking in others. One reported seeing his breath Inside his house!  (My temperature indoors dropped to 55, and I had a small generator able to run a small heater.  (Thanks to my camper supplies!)

Another coworker has given up staying home.  She has had power, lost it for hours and hours.  Got it back for a few hours only to loose it again for tens of hours.  Tuesday, after losing it again, she packed up her hubby and dogs and moved in to her son's inlaw's house!  (She claimed, "Having the second COVID shot makes you brave!") I hope that they are all OK. They got their second shots only a week ago!

I offered a faculty member my spare room.  My bride was fine with me asking him, but then claimed, "You will have to clean that room!"  I said, he will be happy with heat and power, we dont have to sanitize the room first!"  However, he turned us down as he hasnt had his second COVID shot yet.  Besides, he isnt sure that he will be able to cross the bridge that separates us as the roads are closed still. 

(speaking of my camper, I am afraid to go inside. It had no power, and Im not positive that the water pipes were fully drained.  I keep it plugged in to keep the fridge operating as it takes forever to get to temperature, but with no power, it may well have frozen solid!)

Anyway, I hope that all are well and able to weather your storms! 
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on February 17, 2021, 04:52:18 AM
Wow.

Stay safe, warm, and dry...

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 17, 2021, 06:51:31 AM
Sorry to hear about your weather problems, clean. 

Our region has been okay so far.  But today we're supposed to have a new winter storm on top of the one earlier this week.  The new storm is supposed to be freezing rain, not snow.  We are likely to face widespread power outages as well.  My house lost power for about an hour last night, for no apparent reason.  A rolling blackout maybe?  We could see a lot of people in acute need by the end of the week.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Harlow2 on February 17, 2021, 07:31:33 AM
Sorry, Clean. Gorgeous skies today, but battening down the hatches again here against tomorrow' s  forecasted 8 inches of heavy wet snow.

Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: spork on February 17, 2021, 07:49:11 AM
My credit union can't process ATM and debit card transactions because its ATMs are tied to a data processor in Texas, which is down because of power outages.

Welcome to the Third World.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: ab_grp on February 17, 2021, 08:17:05 AM
Sending warm wishes to you, clean.  It's very stressful being without power, or having it back and knowing there's a good chance you will lose it again (so much to do in the meantime!).  It's even worse if you can't really drive anywhere to get some relief, and I can't imagine trying to handle all this in a pandemic as well.  Be careful with alternative power sources, and I hope you get out of the freezing zone soon and back to some sort of normal, even if everything isn't resolved immediately.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on February 17, 2021, 07:19:29 PM
A mix of snow and ice will be here in the metro DC area tomorrow and Friday:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2021/02/winter-storm-watch-issued-for-dc-region-as-significant-snow-ice-possible/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2021/02/winter-storm-watch-issued-for-dc-region-as-significant-snow-ice-possible/)
A winter storm warning has been issued. Stay safe and warm everyone!
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on February 17, 2021, 07:53:50 PM
My brother (in the upper part of Michigan's lower peninsula) just wrote and said they have 4 feet of snow on ground,  with the highs around 10 degrees, going down to as low as - 21, and, "Not as much snow as in the last three years, but the winter is young....."

Meanwhile, I'm just seeing temps hovering around the 20s (above zero) in the daytime, sometimes going up to the 30s/40s, then down to the 'teens at night. And my last three snow-storms have turned to rain, ice, or slush, and then started melting the next day.

So, really just a dirty white dusting now.

Meanwhile, friends in Texas have no power, and friends in Mississippi are using their generators.

Vortexes (vortices?) gotta vortex, I guess.

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: clean on February 17, 2021, 08:41:48 PM
Bride ventured to Target and a local grocery store chain.  No water.  The TP 'crisis' has returned!!

A coworker lives walking distance from me, but I really dont know where he lives. He lost power about the time I did, got it back about the time I did (about 3 pm Tuesday, after a 36 hour outage).  But he lost power about 4 on Wednesday. So far, I still have power. 
My batteries are recharged. I have a 'fluid pump' as that will allow me to get the 5 gallons of gas out of that tank and into the generator safely IF It becomes necessary.

I hope it wont come to it tonight as it is too dark and cold to try to get the generator running tonight. IF i loose it now, we are just going to go to bed and wait get a good night's sleep. IF there is no power, there is no need to get up in the night to check emails and internet news!

Hopefully, we will get back to temperatures that allow the power to return so that the state can get closer to the 2nd world than the 4th!  (with no power, water boil notices, and NO water to boil even if you wanted to try!!)
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Puget on February 18, 2021, 07:59:50 AM
I feel for you Clean-- I grew up in a semi-rural area and we lost power for several days at a time at least once a winter. We had a wood stove so heat wasn't an issue, but on a well you have no water when the power goes out-- the trick is, at the first sign that it might go out, fill the bathtub (to be used for flushing toilets), and every pot, jar, and pitcher in the house (for drinking, cooking, and washing hands). Also have an emergency supply of water ready to go-- 5 gallon buckets for non-consumption uses plus sealed gallon jugs of drinking water.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 18, 2021, 08:25:35 AM
Most of the additional snow we were forecast to receive seems not to have showed up.  We did get some, though.  Tracks I know were there yesterday are now covered with a hard crust.

While out walking, I came across a guy trying to get his vehicle unstuck.  He was annoyed at his boss calling him in to work on a day when even the local McDonald's is shut down.  I tried my best to help him get out.  My best wasn't nearly good enough.  Then the Chief of Police showed up and offered to give him a ride.  The man said he wouldn't be mad at the Chief today--"I don't care what they say about you!"  Community policing in action!
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on February 18, 2021, 06:39:39 PM
Got a snow day from the library! It was great to sleep in this morning. There was snow, sleet, and rain until early afternoon. The plows cleared our street. Somehow we got newspaper delivery! It was cloudy when I went to shovel.
There's some light snow and re-freezing overnight:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2021/02/winter-weather-looming-as-snow-ice-could-make-travel-hazardous-in-dc-area/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2021/02/winter-weather-looming-as-snow-ice-could-make-travel-hazardous-in-dc-area/)
I'm not scheduled to be back at the library until Monday.

For those in hard hit areas, please stay safe and keep us posted when you can.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 19, 2021, 08:17:17 AM
Quote from: hmaria1609 on February 18, 2021, 06:39:39 PM
Got a snow day from the library! It was great to sleep in this morning. There was snow, sleet, and rain until early afternoon. The plows cleared our street. Somehow we got newspaper delivery! It was cloudy when I went to shovel.
There's some light snow and re-freezing overnight:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2021/02/winter-weather-looming-as-snow-ice-could-make-travel-hazardous-in-dc-area/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2021/02/winter-weather-looming-as-snow-ice-could-make-travel-hazardous-in-dc-area/)
I'm not scheduled to be back at the library until Monday.

For those in hard hit areas, please stay safe and keep us posted when you can.

We've had to close our library for an entire week.  Not having to be here early every morning has been nice, all right.  But this week has put me badly behind on work that we really need to do!  I have deadlines next week that I'm going to have to cram for when we get everybody back to work.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: clean on February 19, 2021, 09:06:55 AM
Water boil might maybe end tonight.  The suspected major water main break has been ruled out.  Instead of one big break, there seems to be a lot of small breaks on private property as well as higher demand as the news told everyone to turn on their taps to drip water.

Stores have pretty much reopened in order to allow the hordes to strip them bare. 

among the items that are no where to be found:
water, milk, meat (of all kinds), fresh veggies, frozen food of all kinds (even ice cream... at least the 'good kinds'), ...

Some of the local fast food places remain closed.  The last time that we faced a weather issue (a hurricane at that time), the same ones closed because they were out of buns.  They can not serve any beverages, and with no buns, no reason to open. 

More places are open, and power is mostly restored, but I suppose that with the store shelves bare, the food places open are packed (or long lines outside).

Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 22, 2021, 07:28:09 AM
How's it going now, clean?


We're finally able to reopen at work.  As of yesterday the main roads were wide open in and near town.  Side streets and roads were still chancy in places.  A handful of us were able to meet face-to-face at church.  A fellow member who is a state trooper said that he had spent the past week getting people out of ditches.  Each morning he had had to have his wife take the pickup truck and get him unstuck from their long rural driveway so that he could get his police cruiser on the road.  I got stuck just inside my driveway on my way back from church.  At least it's off the street.

Some of our staff who live out in the boondocks have begged off from coming in today.  We're not pressing them.  We have enough staff here to operate.  Half of our parking lot and the walkways around the building have thawed, so patrons should be safe getting in and out if they take any care at all wich what they're doing.

Saturday I was running low on bread (been making more sandwiches than usual) and hot chocolate.  I walked some blocks to the grocery store and actually found bread!  There were still a few little loaves of pricey "organic" bread down on a bottom shelf.  Didn't check to see whether they had supplies of dairy products and fresh fruits and vegetables.  I'd guess they were mostly picked over.  Probably due more to supply chain disruptions than to hoarding.

My trooper friend said that we've had no fatal accidents in our region due to the weather.  Between that and the generally good utility service, we've been very, very fortunate.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: clean on February 22, 2021, 10:31:47 AM
Im pretty sure that the national news has covered the issues in my state.  Power has returned.  Water, at least here, is available and does not require boiling to use.

Still, there are lots of business still shut down.  Saturday afternoon I was out and about and drove by 3 chicken type restaurants. They were all closed. While power had returned and water was safe, I surmise that they had lost their freezers and had not yet been resupplied.

The burger chain closest to my house was closed as well. They closed for a while after the hurricane too. It wasnt that the store was damaged, powerless or waterless, but they could not get buns. 

Saturday the local grocery and Walmart were stripped bare. 
Today I ventured to Walmart. They have restocked somewhat. Still no eggs, bread, milk, frozen foods and only about 1/2 of the veggies have returned.  So it may take a few more days to get back up and fully stocked to enable shopping. 

My university ended up being open only 1/2 a day on Wednesday.  We were closed Monday and Tuesday and then we closed down Wednesday afternoon through the end of the week. However, we have some 7 week classes offered online, though with a large proportion of on campus students, that were not cancelled or extensions for the term issued.  So I had the midterm extended to Sunday, but Exam 3 is going to be Saturday and Sunday.  Students are "asking questions", but my answer is that "The provost has made it clear that the term will end as usual, and we can not delay the rest of the term's assignments.  "  (there are only 3 weeks or so left in the term!  )

The storm has exposed some repairs that I have to get done now.  My car needs new tires (scheduled for Wednesday morning).  One tire in particular has been flat to the ground every day for the last week, so it is not simply because of the low. low temperatures.
My truck's tire pressure system wont turn off, though I have plenty of air in all 4 tires.  I dealt with this last summer, taking it to the shop 3 times!  Hopefully this is simply a matter of just one sensor being bad (still not a cheap fix).

My generator worked well enough, but needs to have a tune up at least. it was not happy running at low speeds.

the external gas tank needs repaired (or replaced, but it is $140 to replace, so I will try to repair it first!)

I was very fortunate. I see on the news that this could be much worse than a hurricane as far as insured (and uninsured) losses from all of the broken pipes.  I kept my heat on enough to not freeze.

On the national news there are people showing that they had market rate electricity rates, and not even bills, but cash withdrawals from their checking and saving accounts in the $7000 to $12,000 range  (for a few day's worth of power!!)  Im just sayin... you can buy a hell of a generator in that range!

IN all, I fared well.  I lost food from the fridge and freezer, but no water damage and my electric bill will be higher (as my bill is somewhat tied to the price of natural gas, which also spiked last week) and because of higher than usual usage, but I should be fine.


Thanks for asking! 
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 22, 2021, 01:23:03 PM
Glad to hear you've come through safely, clean.

I've been hearing about assorted roof and awning collapses due to the snow.  Some I'd already seen for myself around town.  The worst was a shipping warehouse that is now disrupting a local manufacturing outfit.  One of our staff members has a husband who will be losing income in the near future due to the disruption.  Whoever it is that buys their products (packaging materials, basically) is in for some supply chain disruption until they get things worked out.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Vkw10 on February 22, 2021, 07:06:35 PM
Limited buildings on our campus were open Saturday, but network services weren't fully restored until late Sunday.

Classes are cancelled until 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, with faculty required to extend due dates for tests and assignments.  Seven instructional days missed; my syllabus is a mess.

Student Rec Center is open to employees and families with campus ID, even without membership this week, so people with burst pipes can use the showers.

I spent much of day inspecting department facilities and taking photos for insurance claims. A water pipe in building broke. I'm glad my department doesn't have plants or animals in labs, because cleanup in those labs will be a mess. After days of freezing cold, we had a more typical Texas weekend, with highs in the 70s.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on February 22, 2021, 07:07:41 PM
Thanks for the update, clean!

I drove to work in a burst of snowfall this morning. There were some accidents reported on WTOP Radio's traffic updates but not along on my commute route. Later the snow switched to rain. It was clear weather when I went home.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 23, 2021, 07:42:25 AM
The streets in town are nearly all clear.  There are still some trouble spots here and there on the back roads.  Today the high is supposed to spike into the low 70s!  Straight from winter storms into spring.

I've been hearing more and more reports of roof collapses locally and around the state.  One of our cities is having major water problems.  Our town has only had a sprinkling of pipe bursts at houses and businesses.  The school district in the capital has been e-mailing around to ask about how to dry out books.  They've evidently had some pipe bursts in classrooms.  I also heard about a church called Level Ground Fellowship that had a roof collapse.  I don't think that's what the name was supposed to mean....
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: clean on February 23, 2021, 10:05:01 AM
News last night focused on the grocery store shortages that remain.  The roads have pretty well cleared. The power is restored and water in most of the local areas (though not all) no longer requires boiling first.

The distribution centers are up and running, but there are and will continue to be lags refilling the distribution center before they can refill the dependent stores.  Still, they expect that full shelves will return within the week. 

I believe that I posted that I went to Walmart yesterday to find no milk, bread, veg, frozen foods and minimal but returning meats.

So as long as are you are a second order vegetarian like me,  (I eat things that eat vegetables!), then you can find enough to get by. 
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: clean on February 24, 2021, 08:53:24 AM
I was out this morning getting new tires for my car.  After that work was done I ventured to the local grocery store.  The parking lot was surprising full for a Wednesday morning (though to be honest, I dont really know what Wednesday Mornings are supposed to look like at the grocery store!).  The aisles were not really busy, and there were plenty of workers restocking, but still lots of areas that are still in the restock stage. There is beef, for instance, but no chicken. 

Then I discovered why the parking lot was busy!  The milk/egg aisle was blocked off. They were restocking and about to open it.  Security guard and all!!  The line went past the refrigerated section, in front of the pharmacy and to the front of the store!!!  I wanted to venture down a nearby aisle, but could not get past the line, but I could see the workers telling/yelling at people LIMIT ONE! 

Fortunately, I still ahve a pint or so of milk and at least 1/2 a dozen eggs.  My bride will have to make due with the substitute creamer her parents gave her for her coffee! 

But it looks like things are improving.... but Gas Prices are up probably 30 Cents a gallon here now!  BUT there IS gas, and there are no longer lines at every pump!  So we ARE returning to normalcy!
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: AmLitHist on February 24, 2021, 09:27:16 AM
Last week we had 8+ inches of snow and -30 degree wind chills here in central IL.  Yesterday it was sunny and nearly 70.  I hung my laundry outside to dry this morning--spring looks and feels a lot nearer today than just a week ago!
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 24, 2021, 10:37:31 AM
Quote from: AmLitHist on February 24, 2021, 09:27:16 AM
Last week we had 8+ inches of snow and -30 degree wind chills here in central IL.  Yesterday it was sunny and nearly 70.  I hung my laundry outside to dry this morning--spring looks and feels a lot nearer today than just a week ago!

Some thing here, except not as much snow.  I've even ridden my bicycle to run errands today, for the first time in months.  It does look rainy.  Lots of rain in our forecast.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 24, 2021, 10:42:07 AM
Quote from: clean on February 24, 2021, 08:53:24 AM
I was out this morning getting new tires for my car.  After that work was done I ventured to the local grocery store.  The parking lot was surprising full for a Wednesday morning (though to be honest, I dont really know what Wednesday Mornings are supposed to look like at the grocery store!).  The aisles were not really busy, and there were plenty of workers restocking, but still lots of areas that are still in the restock stage. There is beef, for instance, but no chicken. 

Then I discovered why the parking lot was busy!  The milk/egg aisle was blocked off. They were restocking and about to open it.  Security guard and all!!  The line went past the refrigerated section, in front of the pharmacy and to the front of the store!!!  I wanted to venture down a nearby aisle, but could not get past the line, but I could see the workers telling/yelling at people LIMIT ONE! 

Fortunately, I still ahve a pint or so of milk and at least 1/2 a dozen eggs.  My bride will have to make due with the substitute creamer her parents gave her for her coffee! 

But it looks like things are improving.... but Gas Prices are up probably 30 Cents a gallon here now!  BUT there IS gas, and there are no longer lines at every pump!  So we ARE returning to normalcy!

Glad things are rebounding quickly, clean.

I'll be interested to see what it looks like at our grocery store tomorrow, when I go for my normal bi-weekly shopping.  Since the roads have basically all been open since Monday, I would guess that pent-up demand is in the process of being met.  Some things might still be scarcer than usual tomorrow.  But I'm guessing we won't have to have any armed guards watching over the eggs!
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on December 21, 2021, 08:23:35 AM
*Bump*

Winter is here, like or not! :D Google has a cute animation for today.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 02, 2022, 07:06:04 PM
The 1st snow of 2022 is its way here to the metro DC area overnight:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/dc-under-winter-storm-watch-with-heavy-snow-forecast-early-monday/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/dc-under-winter-storm-watch-with-heavy-snow-forecast-early-monday/)
Posted on WTOP online (1/2/22)
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 03, 2022, 10:29:32 AM
The snow has arrived!
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/up-to-10-inches-forecast-in-dc-areas-first-major-snowfall-of-the-season/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/up-to-10-inches-forecast-in-dc-areas-first-major-snowfall-of-the-season/)
Scroll past the ad breaks to read full article.

Not seeing anything here but it's cold. I appreciate the snow day from the library!  :)
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on January 03, 2022, 01:05:30 PM
It's finally cold enough to eat soups and such again!  I have a serving of taco soup leftover from a batch this fall.  Tomorrow I plan to make a big crock pot full of chili.  I need to go to the nearest grocery store on my afternoon break to get hominy for it.  I had laid in supplies for chili-making a month ago, but in the long interval of warm weather I ended up using all the canned hominy.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Harlow2 on January 03, 2022, 05:27:35 PM
Quote from: hmaria1609 on January 03, 2022, 10:29:32 AM
The snow has arrived!
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/up-to-10-inches-forecast-in-dc-areas-first-major-snowfall-of-the-season/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/up-to-10-inches-forecast-in-dc-areas-first-major-snowfall-of-the-season/)
Scroll past the ad breaks to read full article.

Not seeing anything here but it's cold. I appreciate the snow day from the library!  :)

Here too!  A wet snow that articulated every branch in the woods near my house. Gorgeous. And fortunate requiring  no shoveling
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 03, 2022, 07:37:56 PM
Evening update: Although the snow has cleared out of the metro DC region, overnight refreezing is a concern. There were a lot of traffic jams and power outages.
I plan to get an x-large coffee for my commute to the library tomorrow morning!
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on January 04, 2022, 07:28:48 AM
Looks like we're supposed to have seasonably cold weather through the rest of the week!  That batch of chili I've got slow-cooking at home ought to be just the thing.

It's nice and clear, though, with no winter precipitation in the forecast.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on January 04, 2022, 07:51:57 AM
I awoke to a cold, chill 18 degrees this AM.

More wool blankets required.

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Juvenal on January 04, 2022, 08:00:44 AM
Last winter was nearly snowless here, with only one episode of shovel-need, the other few more or less broom-able.  We have yet to see any snow (I lie; a soon-gone dusting in December) this winter season, after a failed prediction yesterday.  Saturday might need a shovel or a broom.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on January 04, 2022, 09:36:22 AM
Quote from: hmaria1609 on January 03, 2022, 07:37:56 PM
Evening update: Although the snow has cleared out of the metro DC region, overnight refreezing is a concern. There were a lot of traffic jams and power outages.
I plan to get an x-large coffee for my commute to the library tomorrow morning!

There've been nation-wide reports of a 50-mile traffic jam on I-95 in Virginia.  Hundreds of people stuck in their cars overnight.  It sounds horrible.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: sinenomine on January 04, 2022, 09:43:46 AM
It was 10 at my house this morning, and the sun is shining for the first time in what feels like ages.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on January 04, 2022, 10:12:23 AM
Quote from: sinenomine on January 04, 2022, 09:43:46 AM
It was 10 at my house this morning, and the sun is shining for the first time in what feels like ages.

Celsius or Fahrenheit?

If things were different I'd take a short celebratory walk to clear my brain after finishing a quick-turn-around mini-article.

But things aren't different, they're still cold.

So, staying in.

Maybe some hot cocoa instead...

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 04, 2022, 10:29:50 AM
Quote from: apl68 on January 04, 2022, 09:36:22 AM
There've been nation-wide reports of a 50-mile traffic jam on I-95 in Virginia.  Hundreds of people stuck in their cars overnight.  It sounds horrible.
It is terrible. The clean up from that continues:
https://wtop.com/traffic/2022/01/the-storm-paralyzed-traffic-on-some-roads/ (https://wtop.com/traffic/2022/01/the-storm-paralyzed-traffic-on-some-roads/)
Drivers have been told to avoid the area, and Gov. Ralph Northam has sent additional help with the clean up.  Scroll past ad breaks to read full article.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on January 04, 2022, 10:31:20 AM
Yes, just saw this:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvg0dJ21Vdg

Some people have been in their cars for 21 hours and counting.

New Jersey has had 13 inches as well:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeEGej9wK2Y

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 04, 2022, 06:42:05 PM
Round #2 for the metro DC area:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/after-record-snowstorm-dc-region-deals-with-slick-road-conditions-power-outages/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/after-record-snowstorm-dc-region-deals-with-slick-road-conditions-power-outages/)
Posted on WTOP Radio 1/4/22
Update to my earlier post: I-95 in VA has cleared out and reopened again.

I appreciated the later opening time at the library today. Light commuting traffic on the way home. I stopped off at a local gas station to clear off the salt treatment on the glass.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Parasaurolophus on January 05, 2022, 10:07:38 AM
The rain and freezing rain melted most of the snow, but we have 20-30cm on the way overnight.

I don't think this area has ever seen so much snow--that's, like, 50-60cm over two weeks.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on January 05, 2022, 10:23:11 AM
Notes to self:

1. OK, fine, it's cold out. You can do lots of energetic things inside. Do 'em.

2. Wanting 'comfort food' is no excuse: it's not about eating your way through the day.

3. Unlike Eric Carle's 'Hungry Little Caterpillar,' humans who keep eating don't get to spin cocoons and turn into butterflies. If we eat through all the pages in the book , we just get fat.

All analogies, even one as gorgeously illustrated as that, do break down, sometime.

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: smallcleanrat on January 05, 2022, 10:32:44 AM
Quote from: mamselle on January 05, 2022, 10:23:11 AM
Notes to self:

1. OK, fine, it's cold out. You can do lots of energetic things inside. Do 'em.

2. Wanting 'comfort food' is no excuse: it's not about eating your way through the day.

3. Unlike Eric Carle's 'Hungry Little Caterpillar,' humans who keep eating don't get to spin cocoons and turn into butterflies. If we eat through all the pages in the book , we just get fat.

All analogies, even one as gorgeously illustrated as that, do break down, sometime.

M.

Thanks for the chuckle, mamselle.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on January 05, 2022, 10:34:26 AM
De rien!

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Parasaurolophus on January 05, 2022, 03:41:31 PM
OT, but...

Quote from: mamselle on January 05, 2022, 10:23:11 AM

3. Unlike Eric Carle's 'Hungry Little Caterpillar,' humans who keep eating don't get to spin cocoons and turn into butterflies. If we eat through all the pages in the book , we just get fat.

All analogies, even one as gorgeously illustrated as that, do break down, sometime.


I've been reading that story a lot, lately. I have to say it:

Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on January 05, 2022, 03:45:48 PM
Ah, I can guess what the hatchling is listening to!

Points well taken.

;--}

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Harlow2 on January 07, 2022, 05:27:49 AM
Snow, second time this week! And finally cold-ish.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Langue_doc on January 07, 2022, 06:04:36 AM
Snow, but I don't have to go anywhere, or even move the car because street cleaning is suspended today. I can hear windshields being cleared. Some of the colleges are closed but schools are open.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on January 07, 2022, 06:26:01 AM
I looked out at 5 AM, shivered and went back to sleep.

It was pretty, soft, steady, big flakes wafting down like feathers.

I looked out a few hours later, awake.

Smaller flakes, still steady, but more purposeful, business-like.

'We have to get this done," they said to each other. "Just a little more time to cover the earth, before the snow plows come..."

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Puget on January 07, 2022, 07:23:04 AM
First snow of any note this winter, which is unusual. Always a nice neighborly occasion-- My next door neighbors got my drive and the sidewalk with their big snow blower. I did their walk and steps and mine, and dug out the curb cut which had been plowed in, and the storm drain. Then saw that the elderly sisters across the street hadn't been dug out and went and did their steps-- they poked their heads out and we had a nice little chat. Now having some hot chocolate before staring actual work. Probably one more round of shoveling this afternoon.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on January 07, 2022, 09:00:36 AM
High of 39 yesterday, with overnight lows in the mid-20s.  What was once fairly ordinary winter temperatures here.  Tomorrow and Sunday the highs are supposed to spike into the upper 60s, with thunderstorms.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 07, 2022, 09:50:18 AM
Woke up to snow this morning:
https://wtop.com/local/2022/01/light-fluffy-snow-kicks-off-frigid-friday-in-dc-area/ (https://wtop.com/local/2022/01/light-fluffy-snow-kicks-off-frigid-friday-in-dc-area/)
I was happy we had a delayed opening this morning.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 11, 2022, 07:12:59 PM
Cold, cold! The Cold Emergency Alert is on for DC.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on January 12, 2022, 12:45:31 AM
7 degrees F last night.

Water dripping in faucets.

Raised the thermostat a bit.

Then back to bed.

Warm there.

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 12, 2022, 08:41:57 AM
Quote from: mamselle on January 12, 2022, 12:45:31 AM
7 degrees F last night.

Water dripping in faucets.

Raised the thermostat a bit.

Then back to bed.

Warm there.

M.
I saw the temps in my alma mater town for the week on my iPhone last night.  Here's a virtual hot chocolate!  :)
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on January 12, 2022, 10:45:07 AM
Merci bien!!!

I had one for breakfast, but that's definitely the right idea for lunch as well.

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: paultuttle on January 13, 2022, 04:53:47 AM
Freezing rain, ice, and/or snow are forecast for north central NC this Sunday--but possibly starting Saturday and extending into Monday morning--to a depth of 5 to 8 inches. Or at least that's what weather.com says at the moment.

I fully expect area grocery store shelves to be emptied of milk, eggs, bread, cheese, and butter in the next few days.

(Roughly paraphrasing a comedian whose name I cannot remember: "What do they expect to make, when they're out of power? French toast?" Yep, peanut butter and crackers would be a much better choice. But hey, what do you expect from people who don't see much frozen precipitation their entire lives?)
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on January 13, 2022, 07:08:42 AM
High of 70 today, after a chilly morning.  Supposed to drop back to a sort of normal level in the next few days.  Just as well that I've finished my big batch of chili.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on January 13, 2022, 07:11:06 AM
Odd what a month's habituation will do.

It's warmer now...as in....

    ...We're 5 degrees above freezing...

Whee!!

M.

Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: glendower on January 13, 2022, 10:09:51 AM
Quote from: paultuttle on January 13, 2022, 04:53:47 AM

(Roughly paraphrasing a comedian whose name I cannot remember: "What do they expect to make, when they're out of power? French toast?" Yep, peanut butter and crackers would be a much better choice. But hey, what do you expect from people who don't see much frozen precipitation their entire lives?)
If they have gas stoves and matches, anything they like. This is why I won't live in an all-electric house. Some people are pretty good with a barbecue, too.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on January 13, 2022, 12:48:28 PM
Quote from: glendower on January 13, 2022, 10:09:51 AM
Quote from: paultuttle on January 13, 2022, 04:53:47 AM

(Roughly paraphrasing a comedian whose name I cannot remember: "What do they expect to make, when they're out of power? French toast?" Yep, peanut butter and crackers would be a much better choice. But hey, what do you expect from people who don't see much frozen precipitation their entire lives?)
If they have gas stoves and matches, anything they like. This is why I won't live in an all-electric house. Some people are pretty good with a barbecue, too.

Just because some of us live in places where snow and ice are rare doesn't mean we're complete idiots about it when it happens.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 16, 2022, 07:45:14 PM
Got some snowfall here in the metro DC area this afternoon:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/dc-area-expecting-snow-storms-ice-sunday-afternoon/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/dc-area-expecting-snow-storms-ice-sunday-afternoon/)
Scroll past ad breaks to read full article.

It was slow going on my way home from the library--we closed early. I pulled off to the side of the interstate to clear off my windshield a few times.
I've already shoveled the driveway and sidewalks. I heard snowblowers further down the street. Now it's raining.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on January 17, 2022, 07:35:12 AM
Windy. Very windy....

Going to sleep, last night, I was several times re-awakened just as I was about to drop off by a garbage can banging against the neighbor's porch, or something scudding along the street, or heavy rain for a few moments, then silence.

Should have recorded all the sounds, it would have made a great thriller intro sound track.

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 19, 2022, 07:27:59 PM
Light snow forecasted for tomorrow's morning commute:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/snow-could-impact-dc-regions-thursday-morning-commute/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/snow-could-impact-dc-regions-thursday-morning-commute/)
I'm not working tomorrow so I'll be sleeping when it happens.  :)
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Harlow2 on January 19, 2022, 08:46:55 PM
Our weather forecasts these past 3 weeks have looked like sine waves of seasonable temps followed by cold/rain/snow then really cold-for-us, then seasonable with everything melting, and on and on. Currently waiting for the next installment of 1-3 inches of snow. Hiked in local bogs with 13* temps and gorgeous grey winter light on red cranberry plants and ice the other day (nothing like the lows Mamselle reports though).


Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 28, 2022, 06:58:35 PM
Seeing light snow outside at the moment. (We had snow showers start in the early afternoon) Although there's a winter weather advisory for the region, it's a state of emergency for MD and VA:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/winter-weather-advisories-start-friday-afternoon-across-dc-area/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/01/winter-weather-advisories-start-friday-afternoon-across-dc-area/)
To our forum members further to the north, stay safe and warm!
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on January 31, 2022, 07:23:42 AM
After a week or two of chilly days, we are rocketing back up into the 70s.  Fortunately the extended forecast calls for more normal seasonal temperatures by the latter part of this week.  Maybe we can manage not to have to start mowing before the end of February.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 31, 2022, 07:43:15 PM
I went through the car wash at a local gas station on the way home. I wanted to get my car and undercarriage clean from all the salt treatment on the roads!

To those further up north, hope you made it through this weekend's nor'easter all right! My cousin in MA texted me pix--quite a dumping! And thankful not to lose power.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on February 01, 2022, 08:11:49 AM
Still have the faucets dripping, since we've been below freezing for the past week (I do collect the water).

This afternoon it might get up to 34 degrees!

Trying to decide if that's warm enough to turn off the drips for a bit...at least until nightfall...

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: paultuttle on February 01, 2022, 06:22:45 PM
Quote from: apl68 on January 13, 2022, 12:48:28 PM
Quote from: glendower on January 13, 2022, 10:09:51 AM
Quote from: paultuttle on January 13, 2022, 04:53:47 AM

(Roughly paraphrasing a comedian whose name I cannot remember: "What do they expect to make, when they're out of power? French toast?" Yep, peanut butter and crackers would be a much better choice. But hey, what do you expect from people who don't see much frozen precipitation their entire lives?)
If they have gas stoves and matches, anything they like. This is why I won't live in an all-electric house. Some people are pretty good with a barbecue, too.

Just because some of us live in places where snow and ice are rare doesn't mean we're complete idiots about it when it happens.

Very true! Apologies for the stereotyping.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 02, 2022, 06:28:35 AM
Thanks, paultuttle.

About that tendency for things like bread and milk to disappear from the shelves when there's a winter (or other) storm alert.  In places where snow or ice or other especially bad weather is likely to disrupt transportation for a few days, there is a tendency for those who had planned to do their normal grocery shopping sometime in those next few days to move their shopping up a day or three.  By and large they're not making large purchases to hoard.  They're just buying what they would normally have bought.  It's a fundamentally rational reaction on their part.  But multiple days' worth of grocery shoppers are now doing their shopping all on the same day.  Since the store's daily deliveries of things like bread and milk are probably not suddenly going to expand to meet the increased demand, the result is likely to be a temporary shortage.

It is true that some people with limited familiarity with winter weather have a fear of it that seems out of proportion.  Right now forecasts here call for a dramatic plunge in temperatures from unseasonable highs.  Other parts of the state are projected to have a significant winter storm that will disrupt power and transportation.  Our region is NOT under a winter weather advisory.  We're unlikely to get anything more than a little sleet that melts the moment it touches down.  But we have a staff member right now who has spent the last two days fearfully hoping that we won't have a terrible storm that cuts power and creates hardship. 

I've been trying to figure out why she's so fearful.  She lives by herself, with no relatives nearby, in an all-electric apartment.  She's probably afraid of what could happen if she loses power when it's cold outside.  She also comes from an impoverished background and has not had an easy life in general.  It may be that when she was younger she had a traumatic experience of being stranded without power or adequate resources in one of the state's rare severe winter events. 

I tend to find her hand-wringing every time there's the slightest hint of winter precipitation a bit tiresome to listen to.  But she seems to have her reasons.  I guess a lot of people do.  I grew up in a house where the main heating was a wood-burning stove, and we could fetch water if the plumbing froze.  We could rough it during a freeze without much trouble.  When I look back, I realize that those youthful winter episodes I recall so fondly were probably a great ordeal for some people.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: FishProf on February 02, 2022, 06:35:32 AM
Quote from: apl68 on January 13, 2022, 12:48:28 PM
Just because some of us live in places where snow and ice are rare doesn't mean we're complete idiots about it when it happens.

No, but to misquote Lewis' Black, "There are idiots who walk among you".

I've personally seen the snow-stupids in Albuquerque, Atlanta, Texas, Seattle, and the transplants from California ("I have 4-wheel drive, why couldn't I stop?") in Montana and Massachusetts

Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 02, 2022, 07:31:46 AM
Quote from: FishProf on February 02, 2022, 06:35:32 AM
Quote from: apl68 on January 13, 2022, 12:48:28 PM
Just because some of us live in places where snow and ice are rare doesn't mean we're complete idiots about it when it happens.

No, but to misquote Lewis' Black, "There are idiots who walk among you".

I've personally seen the snow-stupids in Albuquerque, Atlanta, Texas, Seattle, and the transplants from California ("I have 4-wheel drive, why couldn't I stop?") in Montana and Massachusetts

When I lived in the big city--which also didn't get snow very often--I noticed that SUVs were the vehicles I most often saw ditched after a snow.  I don't know whether that was because SUV drivers overestimated their vehicles' ability to handle snowy road conditions, or was just a function of the sheer high proportion of SUVs on the road.  An SUV with 4WD can sometimes get you out of trouble if properly handled, but if not carefully handled is at least as likely to get into it in the first place.

In rural areas I've seldom seen vehicles get ditched, probably because most people avoid getting out during snow in the first place.  Hence that tendency to try to stock up on groceries just before the snow hits.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: FishProf on February 02, 2022, 07:36:59 AM
apl68, I totally agree.

The lack of understanding about how 4wd helps you go but does not help you stop (ALL vehicles have 4-wheel brakes) is a major culprit.

I have always owned FWD manual transmission vehicles which give you options in snowy conditions.  Well, I did until I switched to my Prius, but even that has the option to use the EV equivalent o engine compression to slow down.

Most importantly, when the roads are really bad, I don't go out.  And I learned from parents an drivers ed how to slide and come out of one on icy roads.   That was the best DEd class the day we went to an empty fairgrounds parking lot and learned to handle slides. 
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: AvidReader on February 02, 2022, 08:52:40 AM
Quote from: apl68 on February 02, 2022, 06:28:35 AM
I've been trying to figure out why she's so fearful.  She lives by herself, with no relatives nearby, in an all-electric apartment.  She's probably afraid of what could happen if she loses power when it's cold outside. 

I grew up in a farmhouse with a woodstove, gas cooking stove, large stockpile of water, and old-school telephone line, so being out of power wasn't unpleasant for several days--in this respect my memories are probably close to yours.

Spouse and I lived in a modern, all-electric house in the upper south (climate close to yours) as newlyweds. We were quite frugal and kept the thermostat in the upper 50s at night and low 60s by day. When we lost power in a snowstorm once, I was astonished at how quickly our little house lost every ounce of heat it had. It was in the 40s indoors within two hours. We were lucky, because having moved from further north, we had lots of warm clothing, but I was shocked at how feeble our insulation was.

Might your staff member benefit from working out a worst-case plan B? Could she stay with a friend who has gas, or, barring that, relocate to a hotel (or even your library) to stay warm? In the longer term, could she save up for a medium-size generator that would let her boil water and maybe run a small heater?

AR.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 02, 2022, 10:16:07 AM
Quote from: AvidReader on February 02, 2022, 08:52:40 AM
Quote from: apl68 on February 02, 2022, 06:28:35 AM
I've been trying to figure out why she's so fearful.  She lives by herself, with no relatives nearby, in an all-electric apartment.  She's probably afraid of what could happen if she loses power when it's cold outside. 

I grew up in a farmhouse with a woodstove, gas cooking stove, large stockpile of water, and old-school telephone line, so being out of power wasn't unpleasant for several days--in this respect my memories are probably close to yours.

Spouse and I lived in a modern, all-electric house in the upper south (climate close to yours) as newlyweds. We were quite frugal and kept the thermostat in the upper 50s at night and low 60s by day. When we lost power in a snowstorm once, I was astonished at how quickly our little house lost every ounce of heat it had. It was in the 40s indoors within two hours. We were lucky, because having moved from further north, we had lots of warm clothing, but I was shocked at how feeble our insulation was.

Might your staff member benefit from working out a worst-case plan B? Could she stay with a friend who has gas, or, barring that, relocate to a hotel (or even your library) to stay warm? In the longer term, could she save up for a medium-size generator that would let her boil water and maybe run a small heater?

AR.

There are people here who would help her.  She's reluctant to ask for help.  And she seems like she has a general tendency to borrow trouble by worrying.

The fragility of electrical grids in winter weather is one reason why there's resistance to moves in some states to ban gas in new homes.  I know I'm glad to know that if I were ever to lose power during the winter I would still have gas heat.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: AmLitHist on February 02, 2022, 10:31:16 AM
We're in a lull for now.  Heavy rain last evening then froze around 3 a.m.; when I woke up and looked out around 4:30, the streets and everything were shining like glass. It then turned to sleet for a few hours, with about an hour of sow after that.  Everything is closed, and nothing is moving right now. 

The real weather is supposed to start around rush hour tonight:  heavy snow overnight and into tomorrow morning or later, with 8-12" forecast.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: filologos on February 02, 2022, 01:46:45 PM
Quote from: apl68 on February 02, 2022, 10:16:07 AM

There are people here who would help her.  She's reluctant to ask for help.  And she seems like she has a general tendency to borrow trouble by worrying.

The fragility of electrical grids in winter weather is one reason why there's resistance to moves in some states to ban gas in new homes.  I know I'm glad to know that if I were ever to lose power during the winter I would still have gas heat.

Yep, I'd love to run a gas line to my kitchen (not too far from the gas furnace and gas water heater) and replace my electric range with a gas one. But I don't know whether I'll stay in this house long enough to make it worth the expense.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: AvidReader on February 02, 2022, 07:22:44 PM
Quote from: apl68 on February 02, 2022, 10:16:07 AM
There are people here who would help her.  She's reluctant to ask for help.  And she seems like she has a general tendency to borrow trouble by worrying.

Understood on all counts. I hope she can find someone.

I'm in your same boat with gas at the moment, filologos, but we at least have a fireplace, so loss of power in winter is just cold showers and creative cooking.

AR.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 03, 2022, 07:52:14 AM
As forecast (By both meteorologists and Phil the groundhog), winter is back with a vengeance!  We're to have highs in the mid-30s, and we've already had hours of cold rain.  Sleet is supposedly coming tonight, but even with that and overnight lows in the 20s it's hard to see our warm, wet roads being affected too badly.  Or any kind of accumulation that would lead to widespread power outages.  Our winter-fearing staff member is still worried, but is putting on a cheerful face.

Normally I ride my bicycle downtown to the weekly Rotary Club lunch. Today I'm driving, even if it does stop raining by then.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: ab_grp on February 03, 2022, 08:34:15 AM
Thankfully, our up to 6" forecast of snow has turned out to be almost nothing (as usual), and temps have not stayed solidly below freezing as they were predicted to do.  So our teen, who has no experience driving in snow or ice, should be able to actually get out of our driveway of her own volition and not just from sliding swiftly down the steep slope, across the street, and into our neighbor's yard or house, let alone trying to get back up the driveway at some point.  I am really thankful! Normal driving around here is hazardous enough.  I am keeping my fingers crossed, though.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: clean on February 03, 2022, 03:11:11 PM
We can not seem to get a forecast here to be able to plan. It Might be freezing rain, it might be just a cold rain, it might be sleet, but nothing is sure yet. We seem to be on the edge of where the rain will stop, and the temperature will be close to 32, but might be just above, so IF we DO get rain, it might not freeze... but it might.... 

So I am not sure of what to do. I dont want to get into full prepper mode and fill the generator tanks or drag out the batteries and the inverters.  It takes a while to drag all of that out (and the extention cords and all) and it takes a while to put it all back after! 

The consensus seems to be that no matter what happens, after noon or 1 pm tomorrow it should be above freezing.  SO as long as the power grid survives, all should be fine by Friday afternoon and I think, through the weekend. 

Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on February 03, 2022, 03:12:38 PM
We rose above freezing so I was finally able to turn off the dripping taps this AM.

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: FishProf on February 03, 2022, 09:08:59 PM
Smolt and MrsFishProf don't have school tomorrow in anticipation of freezing rain.

So much for a quiet morning to work on manuscripts (and Kitty scritches)
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Puget on February 04, 2022, 07:21:46 AM
I really want "wintery mix" to be a festive snack food and not what is falling from the sky today.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on February 04, 2022, 07:27:10 AM
Quote from: Puget on February 04, 2022, 07:21:46 AM
I really want "wintery mix" to be a festive snack food and not what is falling from the sky today.

+1

I'm thinking the ones with What Chex and melted sharp Cheddar cheese...

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: apl68 on February 04, 2022, 08:05:35 AM
Our state has seen several inches of snow in places (nowhere near here), and sleet and ice elsewhere.  Eighteen-wheelers have been jack-knifing all over the state's expressways.  Tens of thousands of households have been without power. 

Here we had a little bit of sleet last night.  I went out and inspected the streets and sidewalks this morning, and found everything good.  There were a few spots of black ice where sidewalks crossed storm drains.  There were no slipping hazards right around the library.  So I went into my office and called everybody to let them know we'd definitely be open this morning.  Then I went home and got ready for work myself.

The schools are closed from abundance of caution, and traffic on the streets was very sparse.  A lot of people seem to have let the reports of winter weather bluff them into staying home.  A six-o'clock meeting I was scheduled to attend last night got cancelled without my being told about it, so I made a trip for nothing.  I'm a little annoyed at seeing so many people failing to call the weather's bluff.  But mainly I'm glad that it WAS only bluffing in our area.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on February 04, 2022, 09:57:01 AM
It's gloopy-gloppy here and the schools cancelled last night for today (with good reason, but I hear you, apl68, it's not always so).

My adult music student usually has her lesson kid-free. Today, as she put it, "i have one child on my head and another around my feet--but so did the rest of my work cohort for our 9 AM meeting today, so we decided we were all appropriately dressed."

The kids only really interrupted twice, after they were reminded that their hands and feet can get them into the kitchen and unpeeling the oranges and bananas that abound there, if they're hungry before lunch.

We ended early anyway, deciding that they might either try eating the house--or boiling cardbord and crayons for lunch--if their mom played the 6-page Chopin Waltz through once more....

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Harlow2 on February 04, 2022, 09:37:57 PM
Warm earlier and the snow all melted. Then lots of rain and it's cold now, so there will be ice in the morning.  Nothing ver dramatic.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on February 05, 2022, 06:01:41 AM
Slight dusting of snow covers a treacherous icy underbed.

Weather watch advice is to leave extra space between vehicles, brake gently, use snow tires, and make turns carefully.

My advice is to stay home unless you absolutely must go out..

Which is what I am doing.....

M.

Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: OneMoreYear on February 05, 2022, 09:02:46 AM
Like a lot of places, the weather has been a mess here since Wednesday evening (University pivoted to remote for Thurs/Fri instead of cancelling--that was loads of fun for my lab classes).
Today we ventured out for groceries. Roads in my small city were great--plowed and mostly dry.  Even my dead-end street was well taken care of.  I could identify the exact spot in the main road where road service transitioned from my small city to nearby large city, as the roads had barely been touched.  Very glad hubby was driving, as he grew up in Chicago, and is much more confident driving in the snow that I.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on February 12, 2022, 07:59:12 PM
Winter weather advisory for Super Bowl weekend:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/02/temperatures-expected-to-cool-off-bring-snow-super-bowl-sunday-in-dc-area/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2022/02/temperatures-expected-to-cool-off-bring-snow-super-bowl-sunday-in-dc-area/)
I've covered my front windshield. Plenty of treatment mix on the roads.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Langue_doc on February 13, 2022, 09:08:24 AM
A couple of inches of snow on cars that haven't been moved since last night, but what appears to be rainwater on other cars. It's been snowing since morning. The temperature has been steadily dropping from around 60 degrees yesterday to around 30 as of now.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: FishProf on February 14, 2022, 08:19:13 AM
The snow overnight and ending by morning (1-3 inches) became ending the next morning and 6-9 inches.  And it will all melt by Friday.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: mamselle on February 14, 2022, 10:26:17 AM
An inch or two, already melting last I looked (an hour or so ago).

M.
Title: Re: Winter Thread
Post by: Harlow2 on February 15, 2022, 05:42:15 PM
On the upswing toward warm tomorrow.  Our 3-day cold spell wasn't too bad.